An early Christmas gift

[pdedse]

Trying to get classes ready for winter term in January (still all on-line at our college), but too many tech problems, too much zoom ...and too much dry weather on an Oregon December day for me to be inside.

I think one winter, must have been about 15 years ago, we had 35, 36 consecutive days of rain, and I don't recall seeing the sun during that time. Maybe a few sunbursts--a term I really dislike because of its implications. So when phone said no rain today and temps would reach high 40s, maybe even 50, I knew work could wait.

I was all set to go north by northwest out of Portland on 30 which hugs the Columbia River and head towards Longview and Clatskanie, but the low grey cloud bank off in that direction looked ominous, so I crossed the river on the 205 bridge and headed east on hiway 14 in Washington...towards plenty of daylight.

It's a route that I've done often, but just never before in December. Head east on 14 through Camas, maybe cross back over to OR at the Bridge of the Gods, or go a bit farther and cross at Hood River. This was a gift that needed to be opened today, for tonight the rains return.

Just east of Camas, looking across the Columbia with Mt. Hood in the distance.


I had on thin liner gloves, my winter gloves, and rain overgloves--the 3 keep my hands just warm enough.

I absolutely love this view...I've posted similar photos prolly 5 times before...but never on a December 18th:


Been feeling a little tight in the hip of late, and riding the CB1100 usually makes it more noticeable, so I added another bleacher pad.


Looking beyond the bike and up, you can see hiway 14, which is the spot where I took the two previous photos:






That right there is a Honda Shadow


The Bridge of the Gods is a gorgeous bridge to cross, but the weather was too nice to start the return back. Somewhere after Stevenson and before the Hood River bridge:


The bridge has $2 toll for cars, but only $1 for a motorcycle. Back on the Oregon side:

[peterbaron]

Nice photos Pdedse

[the Ferret]

Early Christmas present indeed

Very scenic

[pdedse]

After 2 and a half hours, I was starting to feel the cold in my toes and fingers...time to head back towards Gresham. There's no avoiding I-84 at this point, but I could get off at Ainsworth to take the historic hiway 30 west. Not many people out at 3:30pm.

Hiway 30 has scads of waterfalls and the Gorge just fills with moisture.


It's fun to look back across the Columbia and see the other side and where I had just come from:


Multnomah Falls...if you are ever in the area, don't miss it, something like 630 feet tall. Usually it's heavily visited to packed, winter time less so...winter time with covid and there just are not that many visitors.


About 140 miles...undoudtedly, this will be my favorite gift.

[tod.branko_imp]

Lovely adventure, thank you for this. I could almost feel the cold in the photos

'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed

[GoldOxide_imp]

Thank you pdedse, Merry Christmas to you too!

[Cormanus]

Love that Shadow! It’s very pretty where you live pdedse.

[koehlerk_imp]

Nicely done pdedse! I was thinking the same thing you were, but alas, couldn't get out (last day of school for my students, and I was "zooming" in a different way). Peace to you this holiday season!

[gmike_imp]

That highway 30 is a neat diversion off the 84. Been on it many times on the bike and auto. Lots of history there. Lots of things to see. Cool 2 lane road.

Thanks

[bioman_imp]

Beautiful pictures! Thanks for showing them. Once the border is open again I should visit Oregon!